MISENHEIMER, N.C.  The Monarch offense came alive and put up a season-high 77 points, a scoring display that had not been seen since December 2017, but it was host Pfeiffer University that walked away with a 79-77 victory over visiting Methodist women's basketball, in USA South Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon.

Kadie Snipes led the Monarchs with 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including five made 3-pointers. Her five makes from downtown is her fourth such game with at least five and she was one 3-pointer shy from again tying the program record of six.

The Monarchs had not scored more than 63 points this season and they shattered that mark in this game. The 77 points is the most since December of the 2017-18 season.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Pfeiffer def. Methodist, 79-77
Records: Methodist 3-20 (2-12 USA South), Pfeiffer 9-13 (6-8)
Location: Misenheimer, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It took an absolutely Herculean effort from the Falcons' Brina Bentley and A'Mya McClain to hold on to the win. The pair combined for 58 points on 19-of-31 (61 percent) shooting from the field and 8-of-13 (62 percent) from deep. The other Pfeiffer players combined for 21 points on 28 percent (8-of-29) from the field and 20 percent (2-of-10) from downtown.
• In the first half, the duo combined to score 32 of the Falcons' 35 points. In the second quarter, Bentley and McClain single handedly outscored the Monarchs, 20-11, as the duo scored 20 of their team's 21 points in the period.
• Trailing by 13 to start the final quarter, Snipes connected on a jumper and a three, followed by a basket from LeTrice Pearson to make it a six-point, 58-52 game.
• With 5:12 to play, Pfeiffer had managed to balloon its lead back up to 13 for the 65-52 score. The Monarchs' shooting caught fire as Pearson and Snipes connected from deep on consecutive possessions at the four-minute mark followed by consecutive threes from Snipes and Katlin Kendrick to make it a 69-64 game with 2:43 remaining.
• McClain began the second half with two straight buckets, a 3-pointer and a jumper to give the Falcons a 40-30 lead. Jazanae Billings ended the third quarter with a jumper to cut the lead to 15 and then a steal and two made free throws to cut the deficit to 58-45 entering the final period.
• The Monarchs scored the first eight points before taking a 19-14 advantage into the second quarter.
• Pfeiffer was leading 79-72 with under 10 ticks remaining before a three from Billings and a jumper from Pearson as time expired made it a two-point game. Methodist outscored the Falcons, 32-21, in the fourth.

STAT FACTS

• Methodist had a 22-7 edge in points off of turnovers but that was offset by the Falcons owning a 17-4 advantage in second chance points.
• Tyzarea Alexander finished with 14 points on four-of-eight shooting with seven rebounds.
• Billings tied her season-high with 11 points, in addition to eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
• Emily Ricks finished with nine points and a career-high seven rebounds.
• Pearson had nine points and two assists and Zytipha Joines finished with six and three.

UP NEXT

• Methodist is home for the final time this season Wednesday, February 12 at 5:30 p.m. The Monarchs hosts Greensboro College and it will be Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Night in support of the Pride's Head Coach Randy Tuggle.
• Pfeiffer hosts Mary Baldwin University on Sunday, February 9 at 4 p.m. in the USA South's Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Game.